Hi everyone,
I am in the process of getting a new Indonesian helper and would like to share my journey so far:
Some friends gave a few tips which I followed:
- think through briefly what your criteria are (eg age, experience, nationality, transfer/new) to narrow search
- know your requirements (so you can let agency know to get best fit)
- important to have a video interview or face to face interview (if transfer)
- don't stick with one agency
- cross check agencies that your friends recommend with MOM website, avoid those with demerit points
Initially I started off contacting only 2 agencies, however one didn't get back to me despite prompting and the other gave very few, not too great biodatas. The deadline to have my helper in drew closer and I got anxious. So I asked around to get more recommendations and I just dropped all the agencies/agents that were recommended by friends/family a call/email/msg to cast the net wider.
In total I contacted over a dozen agencies in my search. Here's my review of the agencies:
Best in terms of response time, quality of biodata and level of service for placement:
From my personal experience, these were the best of all the agencies I had contacted
These 2 agencies provides the service of doing short video clip interviews of your selected candidates AND will sent the clips to you over WA. This makes it super easy for you to shortlist and then forward clips to your spouse/parents/pils etc for decisions.
1) Wonderful Maid Agency (Tampines)- highly responsive, always made it a point to follow up, easy comms over Whatsapp, prompt video clips of interviews sent, many good choices of biodata, excellent service (both over WA and in person), reasonable charges. Not pushy for sales, provides very good advice to help your selection. Contact person Evon
2) Eelit Placement Agency (Katong) - had the best selection of quality biodata and with an easy access online system for selection, easy comms over Whatsapp, prompt video clips of interviews sent, efficient service (both over WA and in person), reasonable charges. Not pushy for sales, provides very good advice to help your selection. Contact person Sherly and Ivy
These next 3 agencies were also good- responsive and professional, slightly more 'old school'.
1) Vista Employment (West Coast) - Not big on WA, deal through usual calling of office line. Good selection of biodata. You can go down to their agency office to do skype interviews. Not pushy for sales, provides very good advice to help your selection. Contact person Margaret.
2) Home Maid (Katong) - Prefer to deal through phone or in person. Good selection of biodata. You can go down to their agency office to do skype interviews. Not pushy for sales, provides good advice to help your selection. Contact person Douglas.
3) Joy Forever Employment (Bukit Timah) - highly responsive, always made it a point to follow up, easy comms over Whatapps, but was not able to provide skype video interviews of selected candidates.
The rest who fall in the middle of the curve either had sent a very limited biodata (or none at all), or were not very responsive (I kept having to chase). I won't be elaborating who they are. A few didn't even bother to follow up at all. 2 agencies had staff in my experience, who were rather rude/curt (AG Employment and A. Pratama).
Hope this sharing helps some of you in your search. Since I'm only at the search phase, this sharing only pertains to the experience of the agencies for search. I can't comment on the after placement service.
All the best to those searching! (Keeping my own fingers crossed for a good one)